From the File: 2 July 1776 ...The 2nd of 70 file entries on U.S. Independence, to be shared in the months ahead

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Year/Author: [1855] Peter Force (1790-1868), Archivist, Historian, Publisher, a former Mayor of Washington, D.C., renowned Editor of AMERICAN ARCHIVES (4th & 5th Series): Containing a Documentary History of North America from March 7, 1774 until Sept 3, 1783 (Washington, D.C.: Self Published, 1837-1853).

Source: THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE: or Notes on Lord Mahon’s History of the American Declaration of Independence. (London: G. Willis, Great Piazza, Covent Garden, 1855. 66 pp):

Quotation:

"The Resolution on Independency (adopted on 2 July 1776) and the Declaration of Independence (adopted on 4 July 1776) were ‘separate’ and ‘distinct’ measures before Congress, proposed at different times, considered at different times, and decided at different times; That the RESOLUTION was the great question of American Independence -- the DECLARATION was the announcement of Independence to the world" (p38). "The adoption of this Resolution on the 2 July 1776 was the termination of all lawful authority of the King over the thirteen United Colonies -- made by this act of the Congress of the thirteen United States of America" …."This July 2nd was the day on which was consummated the most important measure that had ever been debated in America" … "The Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4th by the vote of twelve States, the same that 2 days before had as Colonies passed the act of Independency." (p.59) "It was also printed and circulated among the

people…It was read everywhere…It was this universal diffusion of the Declaration that made the 4 July 1776 the great festival day of the nation, instead of the 2 July 1776, the real birthday of American freedom." (p.60).

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